Nation of the Moon

On June 22nd, 2024 a full moon begins to rise over the Eastern United States at 9:28PM and 25% of the population suddenly transforms into werewolves and they in turn, kill about a third of the remaining population. Many people are caught off guard as the moonlight shifts across the U.S. and they are attacked in large venues by those changing around them or in their homes by their own loved ones.

Unlike the Werewolves of folklore and myths, these wolves can be killed through normal damage without relying on silver or other special methods. The wolves only have increased stamina, speed, and strength over a typical wolf. Those that transformed, but were killed while in wolf form immediately transform back to their human state and people realize they have just killed their loved ones, neighbors, and good people

In the wake of the first night, the country and world is in shock. Many who transformed into wolves that night eventually change back to human form when the moon sets and awaken in strange locations with little to no clothing and have no idea what transpired during the night.

The East Coast has been hit the hardest, with major population centers experiencing the highest casualty rates. Around 50% of the “humans” were killed during the night and in the morning people can’t distinguish the difference between the survivors and the folks who were the wolves. Cities have been shut down and even the military struggles to operate properly because of their own soldiers affected through the night.

The West Coast fares better than the east, though dense population centers feel the same effect. Many of the rural states had more survivors because the wolves had a bigger challenge finding their prey. While many more people survived, looting and violence was still prevalent as people try to figure out if the same thing will happen again on the second night.

In the U.S., the state of Missouri is unaffected by this incident. No one changes into a werewolf inside the state line and wolves just outside the state refuse to enter it in their wolfen form. As word spreads of this terror free area, both the survivors and the affected make pilgrimages to Missouri, seeking a safe haven. The state has its own internal struggle with those who want to help outsiders, and those who feel that outsiders will bring the affliction to their homes.

The political state of the country is in unrest with the vice president having been killed during the events of the night. The president is alive, but rumors soon surface that he had changed into a wolf, like so many others. Politicians struggle to find their role in a country that is panic stricken and looking for answer or someone to blame.

The world has been unaffected, but they quickly see it as some sort of viral outbreak causing them to quarantine all travelers who left the United States on that first night. International flights have been shut down and those traveling abroad are unable to return to their homes and families in their time of need. Americans begin to seek refuge in Canada, Mexico, and Cuba with the hopes they won’t transform into a wolf form if they aren’t on U.S. soil. Other countries quickly begin to shut down their borders in an effort to quarantine the United States. Mexico begins to shoot Americans on sight as they try to sneak across the border. The world’s scientists begin to work on the werewolf problem.

Join eleven new and emerging authors as they explore an alternate world of chaos and destruction in this anthology book of short stories. This updated edition for 2021 includes new work by Jonathan Byrd, Johnny Craft, Patrick Handlon, Christopher Moshier, and Marie Newbold.

Eight new and emerging authors share their work with you about a werewolf event in the United States on June 20th, 2016. Biographies for each can be found at www.FIGIDPress.com.